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(No Model.) 2 Sheets'-Sheet 1.

J. G. POTTER.

REVOLVING 00MB FOR FIBER FEEDING MACHINES.

No. 523,818. Patented July 31, 1894.

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J. O. POTTER. REVOLVING 00MB FOR FIBER FEEDING MACHINES. No. 523,818.Patented July 31, 1894.

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UNITED; STATES" PATENT QFFICE.

JAMES o. POTTER, OFPAWTUOKET, RHODE ISLAND.

REVOLVING COMB FoR FlBER- FEEDlN G MACHINES.

srncrrronrrolvrormin part of Letters Patent No. 523,818, dated m 31,1894.

Application filed November 20, 1 893. Seriallio. 491,479. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES C. POTTER, of Pawtucket, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have. invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Revolving Combs for Fiber-Feeding Machines; and Ihereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention refers to improvements in revolving combs which areparticularly adapted for use in machines for feeding fibers. The objectof the invention is to so construct the eccentric clearer-frame for thecomb teeth that it may be adjusted about the shaft of the revolvingcomb. Y Another object of the invention .is to so construct and supporta revolving comb and its clearer frame that both may be readily adjustedwith reference to the lifting-apron.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of the revolvingcomb and its novel combination with the clearer frame. I The inventionalso consists in the peculiar construction of the clearer frame.

The invention also consists in the peculiar I combination with the comband frame of the novel adjustable supports for the same.

The invention also consistsin the combination with a revolving combhaving rigid teeth, of a clearer frame the extension of the bars ofwhich is eccentric with reference to the comb-shaft and in so mountingthe frame that it may be adjusted around the comb-shaft in order tobring the bars nearer to-or farther from the outer ends of the teeth atthe point at which the fiber is taken up by the teeth.

The invention still further consists in such other novel features ofconstruction and combination of parts as may hereinafter be more fullydescribed and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional viewof portions of afiber-feeding mechanism showing the improved comb and its relation tothe lifting apron. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged cross-sectional view ofthe improved comb and itsclearer frame. Fig. 3 represents a rearelevation of portions of the same. Fig. 4. represents a horizontalsectional viewof the same, partially brokenaway at the center, thesupports in which the comb shaft is journaled and their adjustingdevices being shown.

Similar numbers of reference designate corresponding parts throughout. r

In self clearing combs for fiber feeding machines, as heretoforeconstructed, the comb teeth have been mounted on movable supportsadapted to advance the teeth as they are revolved toward the liftingapron and to withdraw the teeth after they have taken up a portion ofthe fiber, the motion tending to clear the fiber from the teeth, thisbeing in some cases assisted by inclosing the mechanism of the teethwithin cylinders through perforations in which the teeth would beextended as they approach the lifting apron. In

order that the teeth or their supports might be readily operated'it hasbeen necessary to keep the movable parts well lubricated and much damageto the fiber is occasioned by the'dropping of the lubricantthereon. Whenthe movable supports for the teeth'were inclosed within a cylinder it.has been found dif ficult to effectively repair the same, occasioningmuch delay from time to time in the use of the'machine and particularlyso from the constant wear on these parts owing to the nature of the workto be performed.

In carrying my invention into practice'it has been my desire to overcomethese and similar objections and to-produce a self clear ing revolvingcomb, which shall have the least possible number of movable parts, inwhich it will not be necessary to apply a lubricant'where it can bebrought in contactwith" the fiber, and to have all the parts of thedevice readily accessible for the purpose of examination and repair.

In the drawings 5 indicates a portion of one side of a fiber feedingmachine which is gen-- erally furnished with a lifting apron formed by aseries of slats, or bars, 6 -6 securedto a continuous belt 7 which issupported in an inclined position by rollers 8 and 9 mounted on shafts10 and 11 the ends of which are journaled in bearings, power beingapplied to one shaft to drive the apron in the direction indicated bythe arrow at. The bars 6-6 are provided with teeth, or spikes, 12-12which engage the fiber and carry it along with the apron.

In the upper portion of the sides 5 are formed slots, or openings, andon the outer surfaces of the sides5,adjacent to these slots, are securedthe brackets 1 1-14c having upwardly extending ends -15 throughperforations in which the adjusting screws 16-16 and 17-17 work. In theupper surface of the brackets 14 are secured the vertical pins 18-18,and adj ustably mounted in the brackets are the blocks 19-19 providedwith centrally located bearings 20-20 and longitudinal guide-slots 21-21extending vertically through the blocks 19-19 which are adapted toreceive the guide-pins 18-18.

In the bearings 20 are journaled the end portions of the shaft 22 onwhich is mounted the drive pulley 23. The inner ends of the bearings arereduced in diameter and extend through the openings 13 in the sides ofthej casing, and on these reduced ends of the.

bearings are mounted the end frames 24-24,

tending through the collars of these frames and bearing on the reducedends of the bearings 20, and having rearwardly extending arms 25-25 andupwardly inclined forward arms 26-26. Connecting the arms 25 is across-bar 27, and connecting the arms marked 26 is a similar bar 28 thesurface of which is slightly inclined. Secured to these crossbars are anumber of curved strips 29-29 which extend downward from the bar 28 atan inward inclination toward the vertical plane of the shaft 22 untilslightly below the same, then curving downward and backward, and finallyupward to the bar 27 at which point and below the same at the rear ofthe shaft the radius of the curve in which the bars extend isconsiderably greater than thecircu'lar path traversed by the points ofthe teeth, these curved strips forming a clearer-frame and through theopenings be-- tween the strips the comb-teeth pass for that portion ofthe length of the strips extending within the radius of the teeth.

Mounted on the shaft 22, within the end frames2et, are the plates 30-30connected by the bars 31-31, and in these bars are fastened the combteeth 32-32 which are long enough to extend through the spaces betweenthe curved-strips 29-29 for that portion of the strips extending withinthe radius of the teeth,

As the shaft 22 is revolved the teeth 32 will pass between the frontportions of the bent strips 29 and gathering the fiber from the liftingapron will throw the same backward. A portion of the fiber, will,however, adhere to the comb teeth, but as these teeth pass backwardbetween the bent strips 29 these strips will strip the fiber from thecomb teeth and this fiber will drop back i The adjustment of the combtoward or from the lifting apron or other conveying device is governedby means of the screws 16-16 and 17-17 to move the blocks 19-19 backwardor forward. The lubrication of the de-' vice is entirely from theoutside and the lubricant is applied only to the journaled portions ofthe shaft 22 whence it cannot be conveyed to a position where it can bebrought into contact with the fiber.

It is obvious that two or more of these combs may-be used in a feedingmachine in posi tions best adapted to act on the fiber.

By the extension of the curved strips to the rear of the revolving comb,the fiber, when piled up in the machine, is prevented from coming incontact with this portion of the is effected.

Where it becomes necessaryto reduce the action of the comb teeth on thefiber, the bolts 24! are loosened and the clearer-frame is adjusted byrotating the same on the re duced ends of the bearings 20 depressingtherear portion of the frame so'that the portions of the strips 29extending in the greater .radius will be brought around the front of thecomb, or to thepoint at which the comb-teeth engage the fiber, the bolts24' being then tightened to hold the frame in position.

It is obvious that the strips 29 may extend downward from the bar 28 ina more nearly vertical-direction than as herein shown, depending on thelength of the comb-teeth and the desired engagement of the same with thefiber.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a revolving comb, the combination withside-frames, bearin gs extending through the same, and a shaft journaledin said "bearings and provided with radially extending teeth, ofend-frames rotatably mounted on thebearings, cross-bars connecting thesesideframes, and parallel clearer-bars extending in a curved planeeccentric to the axis of the comb-shaft and secured to the cross-bars,as described.

2. In a revolving comb, the combination with adjustable bearings, ashaft journaled therein, and a combing device, 'havingteeth, mounted onthe shaft, of a clearer-frame consistingof a series of parallel bars orstrips adj ustably supported eccentrically tothe axis of the shaft andseparated by spacesslightly greater than .the diameterof the comb teeth.

3. In a revolving comb, the combination with side brackets, adjustingscrews in the ends of the brackets, movable blocks furnished withinwardly extending bearings secured between the screws, ashaft journaledin the bearings, and a comb having fixed radial teeth mounted on theshaft, of endframes rotatable around the axis of the shaft, Grossbarsconnecting the end frames, and parallel curved strips, secured at theends to the cross- 30, and the teeth 32-32 secured in the crossbars, ofthe end frames 24-24 mounted on 15 the inner ends of the vbearings andhaving arms 25 and 26, the bars 27 and 28 secured to these arms andconnecting the two frames,. and the curved strips 2929 secured to thebars 27 and 28 and extending as described. h' In witness whereof I havehereunto set In and. JAMES C. POTTER.

Witnesses:

M. F. BLIGH, J. A. MILLER, Jr.

